The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced visa restrictions for Georgian citizens implicated in suppressing dissent against the nation’s controversial “foreign influence” law. This law necessitates that media companies and non-governmental organizations backed by foreign entities register as organizations functioning in the interest of foreign powers.
The DOJ accused the Georgian government of adopting “repressive tactics” to suppress recent protests, expressing concerns that the law may infringe upon freedom of expression and association, and limit Georgian citizens’ access to necessary information.
The newly introduced visa policy targets individuals deemed responsible or complicit in undermining Georgia’s democracy, as well as their family members. This includes individuals found accountable for curbing civil society and peaceful assembly in Georgia through violence or intimidation.
Originally submitted to the Georgian parliament last year and reintroduced in April, the contentious “foreign influence” bill garnered a lot of public outrage before being passed last week. Despite being vetoed by Georgia’s President, Salome Zourabichvili, the bill is expected to be overridden by parliament.
Under the law, media companies and non-governmental organizations that receive more than 20% of income from outside Georgia must register with the government and disclose vital funding data. Failure to comply may incur significant fines, freezing of assets, or termination of operations by the Georgian government.
The law has been advocated by the ruling Georgian Dream Party, articulating the bill’s necessity to buffer the Georgian political process from foreign intervention. Despite its resemblance to foreign agent laws functioning in the EU and the US, the initiative has alarmed opponents who voiced concerns over its “Russian-styled” nature, fearing that it will erode freedom of speech and relations with the West.
The Georgian ruling party has denounced the imposed visa restrictions as a “blackmail” and an overt attempt to “restrict Georgia’s independence and sovereignty.” Furthermore, the legislation has catalyzed violent protests in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, sparking confrontations between protesters and riot police over the past month since the law was introduced.